Abu Zainab Al-Lami, whose real name is Hussein Faleh, is a leader in the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) and gained notoriety during the outbreak of the protests in October 2019. Sources at that time indicated that he was responsible for a sniper unit that assassinated activists during the protests. Al-Lami has been heading the security apparatus of the PMF for several years, which is tasked with punishing PMF leaders who violate orders or instructions, according to the Combating Terrorism Center at the U.S. Military Academy.
In addition to his role in the PMF, Al-Lami is considered one of the prominent leaders of Hezbollah Brigades in Iraq, which is designated as a terrorist organization by the United States. Washington has imposed sanctions on him due to his alleged role in the October protests. A report published in late 2019 described Al-Lami as "an extremely powerful and broadly feared figure," who had direct communication with the commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, Qassem Soleimani, independently of Abu Mahdi Al-Muhandis.
According to sources, Iraqi politicians stated that Al-Lami's security apparatus manages a branch called "technical intelligence," led by an individual named Abu Imran, which focuses on managing coercive operations against politicians and officials in various Iraqi ministries and security leaders. The PMF's security directorate is involved in corrupt money collection, controlling the Iraq-Syria border, human rights violations, and establishing and developing bases beyond the control of the Iraqi state.
**What Happened in the PMF Leadership Meeting?**
A stormy night unfolded within the PMF authority, as disputes escalated to the point of conflict among PMF leaders in a meeting held a few hours ago. The leadership retracted its decision to dismiss the head of its security apparatus known as "Abu Zainab Al-Lami." Various sources reported that the Hezbollah Brigades pressured the authority to refrain from executing the dismissal after its gunmen surrounded its headquarters in Baghdad.
Iraqi sources indicated that the head of the PMF had removed the director of the authority's security from his position and temporarily appointed Ali Al-Zaydi in his place, only for the authority to reverse its decision under mysterious circumstances. Local media circulated reports that armed individuals affiliated with the Hezbollah Brigades surrounded the PMF headquarters in Baghdad, where Al-Lami's office is located, warning against carrying out the dismissal.
A photo circulated by platforms close to the PMF shows "Abu Zainab Al-Lami" to the left of Al-Fayyad.
